VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

$155...

Marathon might have Naish boards.

I can't GET boards but I have a couple of used ones. Mana 10'0" and Hokua 9'3". Neither accept a mast base.

Superdave... how much are you selling those used SUPs for? Got a paddle as well?

Hey,

Gotta show off the new SUP....on nanmoo's advice I sold 2 of my longboards cause owning longboards and a SUP is redundant. I had decided I wanted the easiest board to learn to SUP surf on.....stability is key in the crappy mushy waves at Westport, WA where we surf the most. And I couldn't resist the Wood version of the Starboard Whopper. The Whopper is big, but is is good for my wife in flat water as she doesn't like to fall in. Also it easily holds two 12 and 14 year old idiots (my 2 sons).

Also, at 10' x 34" I figure it would sit about 8 people comfortably if I used it as a dining room table?

Keith

too bad woodies have no mast mount, they are beautiful.

Nice board,

I'll give you $500 for it. Deal?

$100 and it will have a mast track or inserts

Hi Markus,

Might be interested in a mast track for this Whopper. Who/Where?

Also - re the other posting..... I am not going to Nitinat to warm up for the Coast. I am going to Nitinat cause I am old, out-of-shape, lame at gybing etc. and that is one the place I get to relax/sail the most in any given day (for us guys who sail 10 days a year on 5.8 or below Nitinat is not that bad - though after a week or so it does get a bit same old). The coast does look awesome. But I know it would be too much for me. Just don't sail ocean stuff enough. Now if it was skiing....bring on the extreme stuff. Maybe I'll get over to CB this winter and then who knows.

PS - I was thinking Roberts in North Van would be good to put in a mast track?

Thanks,

Keith

Keith,

I have the Whopper as well, but with a track (actually 2 insert positions). My opinion is that it surfs much better than it sails. I'd keep the woody looking pristine and light and just use it for SUPing. It's a great board in the surf despite its girthy/beamy dimensions, but is pretty slow on the wave (yet is turny if you stand way back on it). Congrats on a sweet board!

Starboard may not have a mast track option because they think the board's construction can't handle the extra forces that may be applied to the board with the sail and mast attached to it, especially in the surf. It would probably be fine on flat water and light wind. My 10 ft 5 in Kona takes a lot abuse but is made for sailing. I think it gets worked more than a smaller board due to it's extra size causing a lot of leverage forces in the surf. I cracked my 9ft 8" SB Extremist (it has the 2 inserts) when the boom got caught around the tail in the white water. Otherwise the SB has been tough. I have a smaller Naish SUP that I would not put a mast track on as I think it couldn't handle the punishment. Your Starboard sure is a beauty though.

Hi,

Just a quick review of the new woody Whopper. Been hangin' on Hornby Island this week and SUPing every day.

I have both the 9'8"x30" Element and the 10'x34" woody Whopper here.

I was worried the Whopper would be too big but am finding the Whopper to be a blast. The wood version is super light which likely helps. What I really like is that it is super easy to step back on and sink the tail and then do a quick turn. Even in 1' - 2' sloppy waves. The Whopper just sinks and spins, and you are good to go. Going out against a stiff breeze into 2' waves was no problem, easy to stay standing up on the board. This increased the fun as you actually stay up on the board pretty much the whole time. Whereas on the 9'8" I always fall in. The Whopper surfs well (in a straight line) but is not the most maneouvreable on a wave.

Yesterday I did a fairly long paddle in flat water (45 min) on the Whopper (from my parents cabin around to Tribune Bay). Incidentally was wearing no shirt, no shoes, no lifejacket.....luckily no coast guard around. It was dead flat water. Scared about 40 seals off an island on my way there. Surrounded by 40 seals in the water around you makes you glad of the 34" width. Luckily no sea lions. The Whopper doesn't track super straight in flat water due to its surfy rocker but I did not find flat water distance paddling to be a problem. Bit of a J stroke or 5 strokes per side and you move along pretty well. I did use the tri fin thruster set-up and it seemed to track better than just using a single fin.

Keith

We hit Tribune on the way home from Desolation Sound last Monday - it was my first time there. That place is pretty wicked, I could see some real-ish surfing happening there after a massive fall southeaster! The beach is so sandy and gradually sloping, its almost like being on the west coast.

Tony,

Here is what Trib looks like on SE.

Surfable if you weigh 85 lbs.....5'10" x 23.75" (red board) and 6'6" x 21.5" (white board) quad fishes.

The Whopper would be perfect there for fat old Dads.

Hey , Isn't that wind in the picture ... Why not kite your whopper